Understanding Littermate Syndrome: Important Things To Know

Do not get tempted to bring two puppies at home at once. Yes, we know that siblings being separated may sound depressing but it will do you good in the long run. Taking home one dog is already a huge responsibility, let alone two. Taking home sibling dogs can lead to littermate syndrome. As a responsible dog owner, it is important to understand what this is about.  

What is Littermate Syndrome?

Littermate syndrome is described as having two puppies brought home from the same litter having behavioral issues. This could also occur on dogs from different breeds but of the same age and brought at home together. These dogs become so codependent on each other that their social relationships with others are negatively affected already. The strong attachment between these two dogs results in problems such as: 

• Social anxiety 

• Aggression or fear 

• Excessive barking or noise 

• Constant crying 

• Uneasiness 

• Difficulty absorbing instructions 

This usually happens when dog parents take home sibling dogs at the same time. In some circumstances, littermate syndrome occurs when puppies are not adopted when they are already 8-12 weeks of age. As a consequence, they develop a strong bond with each other. These dogs find security in the presence of the other dog. This results in the development of littermate syndrome between them.  

Signs and Symptoms of Littermate Syndrome

Watch out for the signs and symptoms of littermate syndrome to address it early on. 

• Strong attachment with one another: Littermate puppies can become so attached. They tend to spend more time with the other puppy and would lose interest in their owner or other dogs. 

• Separation anxiety: Since these puppies are codependent on each other, separating them results in severe anxiety. This could result in excessive crying or barking. 

• Signs of aggression: Littermates can show signs of aggression towards each other. They can also be aggressive towards their pet owners or other dogs. This could lead to destructive behavior. Your pet might get hurt or it could hurt others. 

• Signs of fear: When you remove one pup from the presence of each other, the other becomes too fearful and withdrawn.

Effects of littermate syndrome 

According to the result of the experiment conducted by the Dog Guide Organization, littermate syndrome could lead to: 

• Having one of the two dogs becoming introverted thus failing to reach its full potential development

• The extrovert dog becomes withdrawn and isolated when separated from its littermate

• Failure to develop a strong bond and interact with others 

Preventing Littermate Syndrome

Do not let your emotions get in the way. You take pity on having to leave one of the siblings and just bring home one, but it’s for the best. There are steps you can take to avoid it.

• Separate puppies into two distinct spaces and crates.

• Treat the dogs as individual pets. They should get their training time separately. They should learn to develop their characteristics independently of each other.  

• Take them out separately and give them attention separately. The puppies should be given an individual schedule for walks in the park. Also, schedule a separate playtime with its owner. They both should get plenty of time to socialize with other members of the family and other dogs, separately. 

Treatment for littermate syndrome 

Prevention is always better than cure as they say. But, if you already happen to have two dogs showing littermate syndrome, these are some remedies: 

• Use an individual crate to separate the dogs 

• In time, move the crates apart in different areas of the house. This helps the dogs become more independent of each other. Do not separate them abruptly as this may result in greater anxiety when suddenly they don’t see their littermate. Watch out for sudden changes in their behavior, your pets should remain calm when being a place to separate crates. 

• Enroll your dogs in a separate obedience training 

• Create a separate schedule for your dogs 

• Seek the advice of professional trainers 

Working around littermate syndrome requires time and dedication. Eventually, your dogs will become more independent and confident. They would also improve their social skills and would be less aggressive or fearful of other dogs or humans. 

Can littermates still be together?

Separating your dogs and having individual training and playtime does not mean that they don’t get to see or interact with their siblings. Once your dogs learn how to be calm and relaxed being separated, you can schedule time for them to be together. When we adopted Blue and Olive who were around the same age, but not from the same litter, we realized that they did have a strong bond with one another. We have found that over time having them in different places has helped and now both are very well-adjusted to family life. 

What to do if you want more dogs?

If ever you still want to have more dogs running around your home, just make sure that they are not of the same litter or dogs the same age. According to Tractive.com, you can wait for a year or two before taking home another dog. Another thing to consider is the financial side of having two or more dogs. This means that you have to spend more on their daily living expenses such as food and supplements. Expenses for vet visits and medicines are also doubled. 

Once you understand what littermate syndrome is about, you now know how to prevent it. In addition, you can also educate other people about it. Telling them what littermate syndrome is about, prevents other dog lovers from taking home siblings at the same time. In turn, we can be sure that the puppies we take into our care reach their full potential. Preventing littermate syndrome could turn our pets into well-adjusted dogs in the future.  

If you are still looking for a litter to take home, check out Stokeshire’s litter page!